The decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is serious and therefore, should involve careful consideration. That’s why it is critical you find a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon whom you can trust to perform surgery as safely as possible with exceptional results.
Here’s what to look for:
- The doctor should be board certified in a surgical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as well as specifically trained in all aspects of cosmetic surgery.
- They should also be practicing within the scope of their training. A fellowship trained and board-certified cosmetic surgeon will be certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and have completed a fellowship program with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, i.e., the surgeon completed one to two years of training dedicated to cosmetic surgery. A board-certified, fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon must also have completed a residency from an ABMS surgical specialty training program.
- Trustworthy and respected cosmetic surgeons should have privileges to perform cosmetic surgery procedures at an accredited hospital.
Finding the Doctor for You:
- Do your due diligence—visit cosmetic surgery practice websites for reviews and recommendations from previous patients.
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations based on their personal experiences with specific cosmetic surgeons.
- Thoroughly review a surgeon’s before and after gallery which should be updated regularly and readily available for you to see. Galleries help you determine if the surgeon consistently provides optimal results. Few pictures from a surgeon often means either they do not perform many cosmetic procedures, or they only show their best work.
About Southern Surgical Arts’ Cosmetic Surgeons
Dr. Chad Deal and Dr. Carey Nease are qualified, fellowship-trained and triple board-certified cosmetic surgeons who have performed over 12,000 cosmetic surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vincent Gardner is also triple board-certified and serves as principal of The Vein Institute at Southern Surgical Arts.